A Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone?

Just a little research in to Scripture reveals the cyclical patterns of life. All things are a never ending cycle as time moves in a circular motion. This is first explained in Bereshit (Genesis)

While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22 HRB)

The old saying is that history repeats itself and we see that this is in fact true. The psalmist David wrote about this in probably the most popular psalm of all time.

He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. (Psalms 23:3 HRB)

The word translated as paths is the Hebrew word “magal” or מעגּל. The word actually means; a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular): - going, path, trench, way. It comes from the Hebrew word “agol” or עגל which means revolve or circular around. Davis is clearly stating that יהוהis leading him in a circular path of righteousness for the sake of His Name. This would indicate that יהוהwould lead those He loves in this circular Path or Way to bring honor and glory to His Name.

Schlomo (Solomon) the son of David writes of this Path as well.

Consider the path “agol” of your feet, And all your ways are established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:26-27 The Scriptures 1998+)

This proverb tells us to ponder or prepare the circular Path of our feet, and let them be established, erect or perfect. Here we see clear and precise instructions to follow this circular Path or Way so we can walk in perfection.

Growing up, I remember being told repeatedly in school that “practice makes perfect” and “repetition is the essence of learning.” These pieces of advice annoyed me as a teenager trying to rush through school. Now I find myself saying these same things almost daily to my home schooled son. By establishing routine or repletion, my son is able to identify areas of weakness or deficiency and make the proper corrections that lead to success.

Could it be that this simple life lesson is a part of a greater lesson our Abba desire to teach us?

I have taught you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in right paths “agol”. When you walk your steps shall not be hindered, And if you run you shall not stumble. (Proverbs 4:11-12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Schlomo tells his father (David) told him that he had led Schlomo in a right or upright circular Path and this would keep Schlomo from being distressed or hexed and when he ran he would NOT totter or waver.

Now we are getting somewhere with this Path. Walking the circular Path or Way will keep us from being distressed or even wavering. We can walk and even run with certainty because we are cycling UPWARD!

We all know that there are many things we come across (sometimes the hard way) while on our walk. Now we can see that if we are on the circular Path these so called obstacles will not cause us to stumble or certainly not fall, but instead become stepping stones that launch us ever upward. Yet we see so many who seem to be stumbling and even falling, departing from the Faith.

But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience, forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3 The Scriptures 1998+)

Moshe (Moses) even told the children of Israel that he knew they would do this very thing:

“For I know that after my death you shall do very corruptly and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil shall come to you in the latter days, because you do what is evil in the eyes of יהוה, to provoke Him through the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 31:29 The Scriptures 1998+)

If we refuse to follow the Path or Way of יהוה, we will end of stumbling or falling away from Him. We must not murmur or complain when we face adversity, but know that these things are stepping stones.

If you falter in the day of distress (adversity), Your strength is small! (Proverbs 24:10 The Scriptures 1998+)

Then, it is to you who believe, that this honor is given. But to disobeying ones, He is the "Stone which those building rejected; this One became the Head of the Corner." (Psa. 118:22) He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. And they stumble at it, because they believe not the word: for which they were appointed. (see Isa. 8:14) (1 Peter 2:7-8 HRB)

It is יהושע Messiah that is either or stepping stone or stumbling block. We choose to step on the Stone and go up closer to יהוה, or stumble and waver as we fall away from our Abba. As always we make the choices that result in our progress or impediment. But for some strange reason we are not getting this, we blame our Father for the bad things and sometimes even take credit for the good. It is this spirit or attitude that leads to a great falling away.

If we stumble or fall back, יהוה still loves us. How does He prove His love? By allowing us to go around again and try to get it right the next time. Life cycles, things come and go and you will have another chance, IF you seek יהוה. It’s only when we run from יהוה and His Path/Way that we are free falling.

Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. And everyone who competes controls himself in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown. Therefore I run accordingly, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I treat my body severely and make it my slave, so that when I have proclaimed to others, I myself might be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Scriptures 1998+)

So therefore, we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses lying around us, having laid aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, through patience let us also run the race set before us, looking to the Author and perfecter of our faith, יהושע, who for the joy set before Him endured the torture stake, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of So therefore, we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses lying around us, having laid aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us, through patience let us also run the race set before us, looking to the Author and perfecter of our faith, Yahshua, who for the joy set before Him endured the torture stake, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of יהוה. (see Psa. 110:1) (Hebrews 12:1-2 HRB)

So we MUST begin to realize we are in a race, there are things that might appear to be obstacles, but we can overcome them and run upward if we keep our eyes on יהוה. Don’t be like our forefathers and mumble and complain, or worse yet fall away from the Faith. Stay on this circular Path/Way and move up to יהוה.

You Don’t Know Me!

 

A few years ago someone began using the slang phrase “you don’t know me” whenever they felt judged or criticized by others. It was a person’s way of saying to their critics that they were not qualified to pass judgment on them based upon the lack of knowledge they possessed. The problem today is, do we ever REALLY know someone? How often do you hear of some strange or horrific deed that is committed by someone that is totally out of character? After years of establishing a reputation and pattern, someone will completely deviate from what seems normal and the typical response is “I thought I knew him/her.”

Knowing someone does seem to be impossible to a large degree, and since everyone reacts to and handles situations differently, maybe we never do really know another human. I wonder sometimes if we even know ourselves. People lie to themselves and often deceive themselves, so maybe this is another impossible task. Who can we know? Is there anyone that we can have an intimate knowledge of today?

We read that when Y’shua returns, He will say to a group of people who claimed to know Him that He did not know them.

“But He shall say, ‘I say to you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness.’ (Luke 13:27 The Scriptures 1998+)

So it appears that in some cases we can think we know Y’shua or יהוה but He does not know us. Certainly things we “do” seemingly for His cause doesn’t make us be known by Him, and did these people really know Him and somehow not be known? That seems ludicrous, so I will venture that the people spoke of in here in the passages in Luke neither knew Him nor were known by Him.

What do the Scriptures mean when it talks of “knowing” someone? In Bereshit (Genesis) chapter 3 we see the first use of the word “know” (Hebrew word yada ידע) used.

“For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see the word yada ידע used for the first and second time in Scripture. Hasatan says that יהוה Elohim yada that in the day Adam and Chavah eat from the Tree of Knowledge (דּעת da’at from the root word yada) that they would be like Elohim and yada good and evil. So without debating the truthfulness or lack thereof in hasatan’s words, we can see that “know” or yada is connected to an intimate gathering of information.

In the ancient Hebrew pictograph language, yada is a picture of an eye and a door. This paints the definition of the door of the eye. Through one’s eyes information is processed and we can see or know by using our sight. The eye is the window into the man’s very being. Experience is gained through visual observation. Knowledge is achieved through these experiences.

So can we know or yada someone just be looking at them? Cannot our physical eyes be deceived?

“By their fruits you shall know them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “So every good tree yields good fruit, but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit. “A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, by their fruits you shall know them – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:16-23 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see the same story we read of earlier in Luke, retold in Matthew. Here Y’shua clearly defines that you can know yada someone by their fruit. Good trees (people) bear good fruit, bad trees (people) bear bad fruit.

So what is fruit? If we know what to look for, might we be able to know a person correctly and not be deceived anymore? Let’s take a short rabbit trail here and determine what it means to bear “fruit.”

“For a good tree does not yield rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree yield good fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. “The good man brings forth what is good out of the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45 The Scriptures 1998+)

Here we see that the fruit, whether good or bad, comes forth from the heart of a man. If a man has a good heart, good comes out of his mouth. Likewise a evil heart produces evil from the mouth. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for fruit (p’riy פּרי) paints the word picture of a man’s head and a mouth. So the very word fruit is connected to the words that come out of our mouths.

If a person has a bad heart the fruit of the bad heart will be bad words coming out of their mouth. Mean, vindictive, degrading, condescending or derogatory words flowing from the mouth. A good heart will produce good fruit manifested in good words coming from our mouths. Uplifting, encouraging, honest, loving and peaceful (shalom) words being spoken indicate a good heart.

When we hear good, we are seeing good. When we hear bad, we are seeing bad. It’s seems too simple but it is SO true. If you hang out long enough with someone, their words will always display their heart. So listen to a person’s mouth (fruit) and know yada their heart.

Now using this Scriptural principle, how can we know yada our Heavenly Father? This is the goal or target for what I am writing here. My desire has always been to intimately know my Abba. I desire to commune with Him, walk with Him and become one (echad) with Him. So it is catamount that I (and all who share this same desire) learn how to know yada יהוה. In knowing Him, I then can better emulate Him and carry this knowledge to others.

So if we know yada someone by their fruit and their fruit comes from their heart and out of their mouth in the form of words, is it possible to know יהוה using this same technique?

Where can we find or hear His Words? His Word is obviously written in the Scripture, so we can through study and application hear the heart of יהוה.

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to shtel zich (study, apply yourself), to present yourself to יהוה as one approved, a po'el (workman) without bushah (shame), keeping on a derech (path) yashar (upright) the Dvar (Word) HaEmet (of Truth).

So by studying and applying the Words of יהוה we keep on the Path or Way this creates workers who can without shame discern or divide these Words of Truth. This is how we KNOW yada Him. When we shema (hear and do) the Word of יהוה, we establish a foundation that builds a house/temple of יהוה. You say you want to know yada Him, but you won’t study (not just read, but study) His Word? You only determine the type of Tree by the Fruit (Words) that it bears. When we eat His Fruit (His Word in us) we in turn will become good trees bearing good fruit.

We can also know yada by hearing His Word through prayer and meditation. We tend to make prayer a one sided conversation where we air our grievances or laundry list and then stop praying. Meditation is SHUTTING UP and listening. You cannot hear His Words and come to know Him when we don’t SHUT UP. Take time to stop and let Him speak to you. We are SO impatient, we rarely take time to talk to Him and never make time to listen.

Another way we can hear and see the Fruit of יהוה is by observing His creation. Every tree, plant, stream, mountain and animal is praising יהוה. We should listen to the birds, the wind whistling through the tree and the water babbling in a brook. These creations are praising their Creator. Science has proven this by constantly discovering things such as the stars are singing a song. Scientist can’t understand the song and don’t know where it is going. We can know the song and who it is sung for by reading His Word. It’s a song of praise to יהוה. You want bear good fruit? Sing His praise.

We can know yada Him and His attributes. We can know the power of His resurrection Philippians 3:10. We can know His love Ephesians 3:19. Know His wisdom Psalms 51:6. We can know His truth John 8:32. Know his kindness and favour 2 Corinthians 8:9. He makes Himself know to those who seek Him.

You can know Him today.

Ekev

Wherefore it shall come to pass (ekev - “seeing surrounds the house"), if ye give heed to these mishpatim (right rulings), and are shomer (guard), and do them, that יהוה Eloheicha shall be shomer (guarding) over the Brit (Covenant) unto thee and the chesed (kindness) which He swore unto Avoteicha (your Fathers); Debarim 7:12
Ekev can also mean "on the heel of" So we can read this as "On the heel of, coming right behind you, if you hear and do these right rulings and guard them in the future, that יהוה your Mighty One shall guard over the Covenant (Alef-Tav) the kindness which He swore unto your Fathers.
When we walk the Way and guard the right rulings we enter into the Covenant made between our Forefathers and יהוה Then He will not let the Covenant He made with them be taken from you, He will preserve and protect it as He gives us kindness.

Do you WANT to be "set free" from the "bondage" of a Contract that guarantees you the promises made to our Forefathers are yours also, and you get kindness from Abba יהוה ?
Not me!!